Folding and stacking machines for articles of linen



E. HAJOS April 7, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES 0FLINEN Original Filed May 12, 1955 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 nrTaR/vexs MawINVENTOR. [UM/V5 HAJOJ' April 7, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

AE 54 I P l 9 T 4 69 70 79 FAA 5 INVENTOR. 4 B9 EUGENE KIA/a5 as 94 Biwuzl 87 92 A ril 7, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES 0? LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. G.

411 oRMe'YS #1 R INVENTOR.

T i UL-1Q EUGENE 114.10: BY 6AM R amuz. 723 M 3 E. HAJOS April 7, 1964FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN 14 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed May 12, 1953 INVENTOR.

ArrvRNeYS E. HAJOS April 7, 1964 Original Filed May 12, 1953 14Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOANYS INVENTOR.

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FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 7, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINESFOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed May 12, 1953 s us E. HAJOS3,127,690

14 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TOR.

ff/Gf/Vf mam BY M zz'w A ril 7, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 17.

A ril 7, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 19. 20

INVENTOR.

EUENE HA JOS ATTOENKYS E. HAJOS April 7, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKINGMACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN l4 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed May 12,1953 FIG. 20.

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14 Sheets-Sheet 11 E. HAJOS FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLESOF LINEN April 7, 1964 Original Filed May 12, 1953 W MfM April 7, 1964E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed May12, 1953 14 Sheets-Shet 12 ease E HA/OS April 7, 1964 E. HAJOS 3,127,690

FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINEN Original Filed Mayl2, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR. c0 EUGENE HAJOJ H ATTORNEYS E;HAJOS April 7, 1964 FOLDING AND STACKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES OF LINENl4 Sheets-Sheet 14 Original Filed May 12, 1955 FIG. 24.

FIG. 25.

INVENTOR.

EUGENE HAJOS BY 7 A Z,, W 770 i fiTToRNfYS United States Patent3,127,696) FOLDING AND STAQKING MACHINES FOR ARTICLES 0F LINEN EugeneHajos, Fort Lee, NJL, assignor to Premier Laundry, Inc, Bronx, N.Y., acorporation of New York Original application May 12, 1953, Ser. No.354,510. Divided and this application Sept. 14, 1961, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 38-2) This invention relates to an improved machine forfolding and stacking articles of linen automatically in discrete countedbundles.

This is a division of application Serial No. 354,510, filed May 12,1953, for Folding and Stacking Machine for Articles of Linen.

An important object of this invention is to provide a machine which willreceive ironed articles of linen successively and which willautomatically fold these articles along their length into thirds, ironthe partly folded articles,

complete the folding of the articles by folding them centrally acrosstheir length, stack the completely folded articles and eject thearticles in stacks containing preselected numbers of articles, ready forwrapping.

The commercial laundry industry has devoted a great deal of effort tothe development of new methods and machines for performing theoperations involved in the assembly-line laundering of socalled flatarticles of linen and the like, such as towels, pillow cases and sheets.Some of these operations include washing the articles, drying thearticles, ironing the articles, folding the articles, making stackscontaining selected numbers of the articles and wrapping the stacks fordelivery.

It is well known that the operation of ironing articles of linen hasbeen solved by the development and use on a wide scale of automaticironing machines. These machines, which are capable of high capacity andefiiciency, are accordingly large, complex and costly. However, eachironing machine requires the use of a number of human operators who takethe ironed articles and manually feed them to one or more small machinesfor folding the articles. The articles are stacked from below, and thecounting of the stacked articles must be done manually.

The provision of high-speed machines in accordance with the presentinvention almost entirely eliminates the need for human operators forfolding and stacking the articles, and results in more economicallaundry operation.

One important feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved longitudinal folder having a flexible and resilient main platefixed to the machine frame at its input end and otherwise supportedindirectly by magnets, so as to provide uniform driving traction forarticles of linen carried on the lower face of the conveyor belt, andhaving folding plates located below the main plate.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of achange-of-direction roller permitting an abrupt change in the directionof movement of the partly folded articles without wrinkling and therebypermitting compact construction of the machine as a whole.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofan improved timing mechanism for insuring accurate central foldingacross their length of articles of varying length. The timing mechanismin accordance with this invention has two separate timers for timing themovement of two towels at a time, as a result of which it is possiblefor articles to follow each other closely upon the conveyor.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofan improved device for stacking the completely folded articles and in anelevator for receiving the stacks. During stacking, the elevator isalways positioned so as to maintain the stack just below the stackingdevice. The elevator is lowered in a series of short drops as the stackgrows. When a selected number of articles are stacked, as determined byan automatic counter, the elevator abruptly drops to its lowestposition, and a pusher is actuated to eject the stack from the elevator.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexeddrawings, in which a preferred embodiment is disclosed.

FIG; 1 is a side elevation of a folding and stacking machine accordingto my invention, the front of the machine being to the left in this viewand the frame and input conveyor being partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the input conveyor of the machine of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the input conveyor ofFIG. 2, taken on the line 33 of that view, showing it attached to thedelivery end of an ironing machine.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of the conveyorassociated with the front of the main frame of the machine, taken on theline 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the longitudinal folder of the machineof FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 5a is a detail view in elevation showing the manner in which thefolding plates are carried by the frame of the machine in an adjustablemanner.

FIG. 5b is a corresponding view in section, taken at right angles toFIG. 5a, illustrating the mounting of the lower folding plate and takenon the line 5bb of FIG. 5a.

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section through the middle of thelongitudinal folder of FIG. 5, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical cross section through the folder of FIG. 5,taken on the line 77 of that figure, showing the upper folding platemaking the first longitudinal fold.

, FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 7 on the line 8--8 of FIG. 5, showingthe lower folding plate beginning the second longitudinal fold.

FIG. 9 is a similar view taken on the line 9'9 of FIG. 5, showing thesecond longitudinal fold completed.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the front part of the machine, taken on anelevation just below the folding plates on the line 1fl10 of FIG. 1,showing some of the drive mechanism and part of the main conveyor beltmechanism.

FIG. 11 is a vertical longitudinal section through the transversefolding mechanism of the machine, taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal elevation from the rear of the machine asviewed in FIG. 1, showing part of the stacking mechanism for the foldedtowels located above the elevator.

FIG; 13 is a view transversely across the machine, taken on the line1313 of FIG. 12 and showing the mechanism of that figure, the angleirons of the stacking mechanism being shown in their normal or upposition.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section through. the middle of the machinefrom rear to front, reading from left to right, taken on the line 1414of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a vertical view, partly in section, taken across the stackingmechanism of FIG. 14 on the line 1515 of that figure, showing the angleirons in their stacking positions.

FIG. 16 is a view in side elevation from the right side of the machine,showing the elevator in an up or stacking position.

FIG. 17 is a view in vertical section through the elevator of FIG. 16,taken on the line 17-17 of that figure.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a portion of the compressed air distributionsystem of the machine.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the timing mechanism C for the transversefolder, certain parts being removed for clarity.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view in elevation of the timing mechanism of FIG.19, viewed from the right of that figure on the line 2020.

FIG. 21 is a view in elevation from the right of FIG. 19, showing thetimer cams for the transverse folder switch and other switches.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic plan view of the complete timing mechanism ofthe machine.

FIGS. 23a, 23b and 230 are a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitof the machine. FIG. 23a shows the circuit for the transverse folder andalso shows the circuit for miscellaneous control devices.

FIG. 23b shows the circuit of the counter for determining the number ofarticles stacked.

FIG. 230 shows the circuits of the stacking mechanism, the elevator andthe pusher for removing stacked towels from the machine.

FIG. 24 is a transverse section of the stacking mechanism, showing amodification thereof.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary section on line 25-25 of FIG. 24.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that themachine is generally shown in its entirety in FIG. 1. In this and otherviews, articles of linen or the like are designated by the referenceletter T. In general, except as specifically indicated below, thedrawings are substantially to scale of a working model of the machine,and reference is made to the drawings to complete the disclosure. Forconvenience, the articles of linen T will be referred to as towels,although it will be apparent that other articles of linen may be foldedin this machine. I will first describe the manipulation of the towelsgenerally.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of an input conveyor A supported by machine frame1 at the front or input end of the machine. Said input conveyor A isshown in detail in FIGS. 24. Towel T enters the machine at the upperpart thereof, where it travels along the bottom face of main conveyorbelt 10 through longitudinal folder B. Said longitudinal folder B isshown in detail in FIGS. 5-9. Longitudinal folder B folds towels Tlongitudinally into overlapping thirds.

At the rear of the machine, change-of-direction roller 11 is mounted onframe 1 with its axis extending laterally. Conveyor belt 16) passesover, in front of and below change-of-direction roller 11 and is spacedtherefrom. Change-of-direction roller 11 is positioned to intercepttowel T as it leaves longitudinal folder B and is adapted to reverse thedirection of movement of towel T. Conveyor belt again receives towel Tas it leaves changeof-direction roller 11 and is adapted to carry towelT forwardly upon its upper face on a level below that of longitudinalfolder B in the direction of the front of the machine.

In its forward movement the towel T passes operatively between belt 10and an ironer 12 which is supported by frame 1 in normal operativeengagement with belt 10. A spring-controlled arm or rod 13 located justforward of the ironer 12 is adapted to move belt 1%) out of operativeengagement with ironer 12 when belt 10 stops moving, a solenoid ISholding rod 13 clear of belt 10 while the latter is moving.

Forwardly of ironer 12 and after passing rod 13, towel T operativelyengages a timer switch lever 14, which controls the operation of timermechanism C, said timer 4 mechanism being shown in detail in FIGS. 19-22and being mounted at the bottom front of frame 1.

Forwardly of timer switch 14, conveyor belt 10 passes over, in front andunder idler roller 15 and then travels rearwardly. As towel T passesover roller 15, it is folded across its width and pushed rearwardly bytransverse folder lever 16 of transverse folder mechanism D. Timermechanism C controls the operation of folder lever 16 so that it foldstowel T centrally across its length. This transverse folder mechanism isshown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The now completely folded towel T is carried rearwardly against thebottom face of main conveyor belt 10 until it enters stacking mechanismE. Conveyor belt 10, which is continuous, then follows a return path, inwhich it is idle, to the point where it receives towels T from inputconveyor A. Stacking mechanism E is suitably actuated, when towel T isfully received therein, to drop towel T upon stack 17 Stacking mechanismE is shown in detail in FIGS. 1215.

The towel stack 17 is supported by an elevator F which extends above thebottom of frame 1 and which gradually drops downwardly as it receivestowels T. When stack 17 contains a pre-determined number of towels,means are provided for rapidly dropping elevator F to its lowestposition, shown in FIG. 1, and for driving a pusher 18 rearwardly toforce stack 17 off elevator F and on to an outlet platform 19 mounted onthe rear of frame 1. Elevator F is shown in detail in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Main Conveyor Belt The disposition of main conveyor belt I!) and thedrive means therefor are clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and 11. Thedirection of movement of belt 10 is shown by arrow 2 (FIG. 1).

Lateral idler roller 2%), which is mounted upon frame 1 at the top frontthereof, will be taken for convenience as the starting and return pointof the continuous belt 10. A further lateral idler roller 21 is mountedupon frame 1 near the top rear thereof. There is a lateral idler roller22 fixed on a laterally extending horizontal shaft 461 rotatably mountedupon frame 1 behind and on a level with roller 21. Lateral idler roller23 is mounted upon frame 1 somewhat below roller 22. Belt 10 passes infront of and under roller 20, under roller 21, over and behind roller 22and behind and under roller 23.

There is a lateral idler roller 24 mounted upon frame 1 at about thelongitudinal center thereof and on about the level of roller 23. Lateralidler roller 15 is mounted upon frame 1 near the front thereof and belowroller 24. Belt 10 passes over roller 24 and over, in front of and underroller 15.

A pair of approximately horizontal arms 25 are mounted at their rearends upon frame 1 generally below and laterally of roller 15 by means oflateral pivots 26 (see FIG. 11). Lateral shaft 27 connects arms 25intermediate their ends. Roller 28 is mounted upon shaft 27 dnectlybelow roller 15. Lateral rod 29 connects the front ends of arms 25. Rods39 extend upwardly from rod 29 through suitable openings (not shown) inframe 1. Spring 31 on each rod 3 bears between frame 1 and stop nut 32on the upper end of rod 30, so that the front ends of arms 25 are urgedupwardly. As a result, roller 28 is held under tension against the partof belt 10 passing under roller 15.

Lateral shaft 33 is turnably mounted upon frame 1 nearer the rear of themachine and on an approximate level with roller 15. Sprocket gear 34 isfixed to an end of shaft 33, and roller 35 is fixedly mounted upon shaft33. Lateral roller 36 is mounted upon frame 1 forwardly of and slightlyabove the level of roller 35.

A pair of arms 37 are mounted upon frame 1 by means of lateral pivots 38and extend upward and forwardly therefrom (see FIGS. 1 and 11). Lateralidler roller 39' is connected between the upper ends of arms 3'7,v andis located below the level of roller 24. Springs 40 are connectedbetween an intermediate point of each arm 37 and a respective point onframe located forwardly of arm 37, and the springs urge roller 39forwardly.

Belt 16 extends under, behind and over roller 35, under roller 36 and infront of and over roller 39. Vertically spaced lateral idler rollers 41and 42 are mounted upon frame 1 rearwardly of rollers 2-3 and 22. Beltextends rearwardly from roller 39', under and behind roller 41, behindand over roller 42 and back over the starting roller 26.

As will become fully apparent below, towel T operatively engages belt 16from starting roller 20 until belt 10 travels under roller 35, with theexception that towel T is out of engagement with belt 10 after it passesunder roller 21 and while it passes over rollers 22 and 23. During thereturn path of belt 10, from roller 35 back to roller 29, it is out ofengagement with towel T. Belt 10 is maintained under tension by theaction of spring 40 upon roller 39.

Electric motor 43 located near the bottom of the frame 1 of the machineserves as the drive means for main conveyor belt 19. Motor 43 has alongitudinally rearwardly extending driven shaft 44 which drives alateral driven shaft 45 mounted in reduction gear box 46. Sprocket gear47 is mounted upon shaft 45. Endless drive chain 48 meshes withsprockets 47 and 34 and also meshes with a sprocket gear 49 fixed to alateral shaft 50 mounted upon frame 1 rearwardly of sprocket 34. Chain48 drives sprocket 34, together with shaft 33 and drive roller 35, aswell as sprocket 49. Roller 35 drives belt 10.

Input Conveyor Input conveyor A is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4. Thedrive means for input conveyor A is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.

Input conveyor A is supported by a pair of laterally spaced brackets 3mounted upon the front of frame 1. Shaft 51 extends turnably betweensaid brackets 3. A pair of input conveyor frame arms 52 are respectivelyturnably mounted on shaft 51 adjacent the respective brackets 3 andextend forwardly and downwardly therefrom. A pair of rollers 53 arefixed to shaft 51 intermediate arms 52. Rollers 53 are laterally spacedfrom each other.

Sprocket wheel 54, which is the drive sprocket for conveyor A, is fixedto shaft 51 between rollers 53.

There is a sprocket wheel 55 fixed to the opposite end of shaft 33 fromsprocket 34 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). A lateral shaft 56 is turnablymounted at its ends upon blocks 144 which are respectively fixed toframes 1 near the front thereof and below sprocket 54. Sprocket wheel 57is mounted on an end of shaft 56 in line with sprocket 55. Shaft 58 isturuably mounted upon frame 1 in front of shaft 56 and carries sprocket59. Endless drive chain 69 extends meshingly behind and under sprocket55, over sprocket 57, under, in front of and over sprocket 59, and oversprocket 55 and hence back to its starting point.

Sprocket wheel 61 is fixed to the central portion of shaft 56. Endlesschain 62 meshes with sprocket 61 and sprocket 54 in the usual manner todrive the input conveyor.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that motor 43 drives shaft 51 ina clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3.

The front ends of arms 52 are connected to a crossiron 63 which extendslaterally outwardly beyond both arms 52. Frame arms 64 are connected tothe respective ends of iron 63 and extend both forwardly and rearwardlythereof in substantially the same direction as arms 52.

One end of air cylinder 65 is connected to frame 1 by lateral pivot 66.Cylinder 65 extends upwardly and forwardly from pivot 66. Plunger 67extends out of the upper end of cylinder 65 and is pivotally connectedto lat- 7 ends, between which shaft 75 extends.

6 eral shaft 68, which extends between arms 64 forwardly of iron 63.

As will be further described below, compressed air is supplied to theinterior of cylinder 65 to urge plunger 67 and hence the front end ofconveyor A upwardly.

Arms 64 have upwardly extending ears at the higher end thereof, betweenwhich lateral shaft 69 extends. Four rollers 7 0 are mounted upon shaft69. Arms 64 also have downwardly extending ears at the higher endthereof, between which lateral shaft 71 extends. A pair of rollers 72are mounted upon shaft 71 adjacent the respective arms 64.

Lateral shaft 73 extends turnably between the front ends of arms 64 andalso extends outwardly from them. Four rollers 74 are fixed to shaft 73between arms 64 to work with the rollers 70 at the upper ends of thearms 64 as hereinafter described.

Arms 64 have depending portions near their lower Four individual bellcrank levers 76 are turnably mounted at intermediate points thereof uponshaft 75. One end of each lever 76 extends forwardly of shaft 75 and hasa lateral roller 77 turnably mounted thereon. The other end of eachlever 76 is connected by spring 73 to a lateral rod 97 extending betweenarms 64, so as to urge roller 77 downwardly.

A pair of center belts 79 are provided. Each belt 79 extends around aroller 53 and a center roller 74 and also extends over a center roller70 and under a spring-pressed roller 77. Belts 79 are driven by chain 62and in turn drive rollers 74.

A pair of side belts 80 are provided. Each belt 80 extends around a sideroller 70, a roller 72, a spring-pressed roller 77 and a side roller 74.Belts 80 are driven by rollers 74 through the belts 79 and shaft 73.

Belts 79 and 80 move in the direction of arrow 81 (FIG. 3). Each ofthese belts is individually tensioned by its associated roller 77.Conveyor A is wider than frame 1, except at its upper portion, wherebelts 79 extend above belts 80.

A pair of arms 82 are positioned outside the respective arms 64 and areconnected to the lower part of these arms by lateral pivots 83. Saidarms 82 extend forwardly of pivots 83. A relatively heavy idler roller84 is connected between arms 82 and rests against the front faces ofbelts 79 and 80 above rollers 74.

Input conveyor A is adapted to be placed in position relative to aconveyor belt 85 (FIG. 3) to receive towels T carried by said belt 85.As an example, belt 85 may be the output conveyor belt of an ironer.Belt 85 is shown as moving in the direction of arrow 88 around a roller86 mounted upon a lateral shaft 87. Said shaft 87 is fixed to the ironerframe (not shown). In order to position conveyor A properly relative toironer belt 85, conveyor A is provided with a pair of arms 89 turnablymounted on the respective ends of shaft 73 outside arms 64. Each arm 89extends forwardly and downwardly of shaft 73. The rear end portion ofarm 89 has an arcuate slot 90 through which screw 91 extends. Screw 91extends into a suitably threaded hole (not shown) in arm 64 and may betightened to lock arm 89 in a selected turned position on shaft 73.

The front ends of arms 89 are joined by a lateral shaft 92 upon whichidler roller 93 is mounted. Shaft 92 also extends outwardly of arms 89and has pulleys 94 mounted on its outer ends. Pulleys 95 are mounted onthe respective outer ends of shaft 73. Idler pulley belts 96 extendaround the respective pairs of pulleys 94 and 95.

In the use of the machine, frame 1 is rolled upon casters 9 until idlerbelts 96 abut ironer conveyor belt 85 under roller 86', as clearly shownin FIG. 3. The air pressure in cylinder 65 upon plunger 67 holdsconveyor A in position against belt 85. The length of belts 96 permitsplacing conveyor A in position against roller 86 located at varyingheights above the floor. Preferably, roller 93 also abuts belt 85; butthe provision of belts 96 extends the range of contact when it isimpractical for roller 93 to abut belt 35.

When conveyor A is thus positioned relative to belt 85 and roller 86,the leading end of a towel T carried on the upper face of belt 85strikes the front faces of belts 79 and 8t and is carried thereby underroller 84 before the trailing end of towel T leaves belt 85. Preferably,towel T does not exceed in width the distance between the respectiveouter side edges of belts 84).

As towel T moves past the belts 80, the side portions of towel T dropdown outside the respective side arms 52.

Longitudinal Folder Longitudinal folder B is shown in detail in FIGS.-9. Because the plates thereof are very thin, being approximately oneeighth of an inch thick, the thickness and spacing of the plates hasbeen exaggerated in these views.

Longitudinal folder B includes a ferromagnetic main plate 1% which ispositioned just below main conveyor belt and which extends from a pointjust behind roller 20 to a point just in front of the point at whichbelt 1@ passes between rollers 11 and 21. Near its front end, main plate1% is supported from below by a laterally extending frame portion 8. Theremainder of plate 1% is supported in a manner to be described below.The front end of plate 100 is positioned just behind the rear ends ofbelts 79.

Plate 190 has a central front-end extension 101 which passes oversprocket 54 and is curved downwardly in front of sprocket 54 (see FIGS.2, 3 and 4). Plate extension 101 is located between belts 79. Plateextension 101 prevents towels T from striking sprocket 54. Also, plateextension 191 carries a switch AE whose switch lever 162 extendsupwardly between belts 79 in a position to be depressed by a towel Tcarried by belts 79, whereby to close switch AE. As will become fullyapparent below, the closing of switch AE by a towel actuates a timerwhich stops the operation of the machine if the towel does not emergefrom the stacker within a specified time interval.

Upon leaving input conveyor belts 79, towel T travels between the lowerface of main conveyor belt 10 and the upper face of main folder plate100, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the front end portion ofplate 109 is of approximately the same width as the rear part ofconveyor A, plate 199 being of somewhat reduced width rearwardly thereof(FIG. 5). A plurality of longitudinally spaced weights 103 rest upon theupper face of belt 10 rearwardly of roller 2% so that belt 10frictionally engages towel T. Each weight 1113 has a slot 104 extendingdownwardly from its upper face and extending the Width thereof. Alateral rod 105 is fixedly supported by frame 1 and rides in said slot104. Said weights 103 are located forwardly and rearwardly of frameportion 8.

Rearwardly of weights 103, and below the uppermost return portion ofbelt 10, frame 1 has a longitudinally extending frame portion 7 (seeFIGS. 6 to 9). A plurality of studs 106 depend from frame portion 7 andsupport a longitudinally extending, non-magnetic plate 167 spaced fromsaid frame portion 7. Preferably, studs 1% are laterally disposed beyondthe respective side edges of main plate 190, and are evenly spaced onboth sides of plate 107 along the entire length thereof. Plate 1197extends almost as far rearwardly as main plate 190 (see FIG. 1).

A plurality of spaced magnets 108 are supported between frame portion 7and the upper face of plate 107. Preferably, magnets 198 are disposed intwo longitudinally extending rows located inwardly of the respectiveside edges of plate 107 (see FIG. 5

Each magnet 108 is horseshoe-shaped, with its pole pieces extendingdownwardly from its cross-piece and longitudinally alined, and with itscross-piece fixed to frame portion 7 by bolt 450, or optionally by astrap.

Plate 100 is preferably only one-sixteenth of an inch x from.

thick and is flexible and resilient. Magnets 198 support that portion ofplate 199 (most of the length thereof) which is not supported by frameportion 8 and hold plate evenly in frictional abutment with the lowerface of belt 19, so as to hold belt 1% in operative engagement withtowel T.

Upper and lower non-magnetic, longitudinally extending folding plates 1%and 1119 are provided. The front of upper folding plate 199 ispreferably located forward of the front of plate 167. The left side ofplate 1&9, as viewed in FIGS. 7-9, extends laterally outwardly of mainplate 199 and is supported by angle iron 451. The right side of plate110, as viewed in FIGS. 79, is similarly supported by another angle iron451. Both angle irons are similarly mounted on the frame, that for plate119 being shown in detail in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

Angle iron 451 extends longitudinally and has a horizontal arm fixed toplate 114) and a vertical arm 452 adjustably supported by frame 1. Inorder to support arm 452, a plurality of vertical channel irons arefixed to frame 1. Each said channel iron has a 1ongitudinal cross-arm453 and laterally inwardly extending end arms 454. Said channel iron islocated outwardly of angle iron 451. Block 455 is positioned be tweenarms 454- and is vertically adjustably secured to each arm 454 by meansof respective screws 456 which extend through respective verticallyelongated slots 457 in arm 454 and into respective thread holes notshown) in the side of block 455.

Angle iron arm 452 is attached to each block 455 by means of arespective screw 453 which extends through arm 452 and into a threadedhole in block 455, the head of screw 45? abutting the inner wall of arm452. Additional screws 459 extend through slot 46% in channel iron arm453 and through respective threaded holes in block 455. Screws 459 arerespectively located above and below screw 458, and the inner ends ofscrews 459 abut iron arm 452. It will be apparent that by adjustment ofscrews 459, plate 119 may be rocked to a selected inclination relativeto the horizontal. The vertical position of plate may be adjusted bymeans of screw 456.

The front portion 111 of the right edge of plate 199, as taken in FIGS.7-9, meets the left edge thereof at the extreme front of plate 1&9 anddiverges rearwardly there- The rear portion 112 of the right edge ofplate 199 is parallel to and preferably located in vertical alinementWith the right edge of main plate 1%.

The front of lower folding plate 110 is located rearwardly of the frontof plate 199 and preferably slightly forward of plate edge portion 112.The right side of plate 111 as viewed in FlGS. 7-9, extends laterallyoutwa-rd bound main plate 199 and is fixed to a second angle iron 451,which is supported entirely similarly to the first angle iron 451.

The front portion 113 of the left edge of lower folding plate 11%, astaken in FIGS. 7-9, meets the right edge thereof at the extreme front ofplate 110 and diverges rearwardly therefrom. The rear portion 114 of theleft edge of plate 110 is parallel to and preferably located in verticalalinement with the left edge of main plate 100 (see FIG. 9).

Plates 109 and 110 extend rearwardly to approximately the same point asplate 100.

In operation, when towel T first enters folder B, it has a centralportion resting upon main plate 1% and respective side portionsextending below the side edges of plate 100. One of these side portionsof towel T strikes the portion of upper folder plate edge portion 111protruding laterally beyond plate 1% and rides along said edge portion111 so that it is forced between plate 1% and plate 109. The second andthird positions of the towel portions in FIG. 5, as well as FIGS. 7 and8 clearly show this step. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the leading edge113 of the lower folding plate 110 makes the secnd longitudinal fold ofthe towel under the upper folding plate 109.

The width of plate 109 relative to standard towel width is optionallychosen so that towel T is folded approximately into thirds. However, invie-w of the further folding of towel T, to be described in detailbelow, it does not matter if the center portion of towel T is wider thanthe two side portions folded under said center portion. In fact, thecenter portion of towel T is usually wider than said folded sideportions.

Change-of-Direction Roller Change-of-direction roller 11 is clearlyshown in FIG. 1. Roller 11 is fixedly supported by a lateral shaft 120turnably mounted upon frame 1. Pulley 462, which is fixed to shaft 461,and pulley 463, which is fixed to shaft 1213, are coupled by pulley belt464 so as to drive roller 11. Preferably, the linear circumferentialspeed of roller 11 exceeds the linear speed of belt 11 A curvedtransversely and laterally extending plate 121 is supported by frame 1behind roller 11 and in front of rollers 22 and 23. The front face ofplate 121 is concave in vertical longitudinal section and issufficiently spaced from the periphery of roller 11 to accommodate thepartly folded towel T.

As the leading end of towel T leaves folder B at the rear end thereof,it falls upon the periphery of roller 11. The trailing portion of towelT continues to be pushed rearwardly between belt 111 and plate 109, sothat towel T drops between roller 11 and plate 121. The movement oftowel T between roller 11 and plate 121 is also aided by gravity, by thedriven turning of roller 11, and by the frictional engagement of towel Tbetween roller 11 and plate 121. Towel T is carried forwardly upon beltafter leaving roller 11.

Ironer lroner 12 is clearly shown in FIG. 1.

Ironer 12 is supported by plate 122. which extends laterally andlongitudinally beyond it and which is supported by frame 1 in a suitablemanner (not shown). Belt 115 is normally supported by rollers 23 and 24so as to abut the lower face of plate 122 fr-ictionally. The rear endportion 123 of plate 122 is curved upwardly away from belt 11 A frontcasing 124 containing heater elements and a rear casing 125 containing athermostat are mounted on top of plate 122. As will be explained indetail below, the thermostat and the heater elements are adapted to beconnected in a suitable electric circuit in order to heat plate 122 to aselected temperature. Towel T passes under plate portion 123 and thenmoves frictionally between plate 122 and belt 10, so that the heatedplate creases the longitudinal folds in towel T. This is often necessaryto prevent unfolding of towel T when the folded side portions are verynarrow.

A generally upstanding bracket 126 is mounted on top of casing 124 atthe front thereof. Ironer solenoid IS is mounted upon the front face ofbracket 126 and is spaced above belt 1%. Solenoid IS has a transverseplunger 127 extending therethrough and coupled at its upper end, abovesolenoid IS, to bracket 126 by means of compression spring 128. Thelower tip of plunger 127, below solenoid IS, carries cross-rod 13. Saidcross-rod 13 is normally urged towards belt 19' by spring 125. However,when belt 11 is moving, solenoid TS is energized by means to bedescribed in detail below, and holds rod 13 spaced above belt 11 Whenbelt lit stops for any reason, solenoid IS is deenergized, and plunger127 is forced downwardly by the action of spring 128. As a result, rod13 engages belt 11} and moves it to its broken-line position of FIG. 1,in which it is spaced from plate 122. This prevents the residual heat ofplate 122 from burning belt 10.

. 1 Q Towel Length Switch Towel length switch X is shown in detail inFIGS. 10 and 11.

Towel length switch X is supported by means of lateral plate 130. Plate131) is supported by frame 1 and bears frictionally against the lowerface of belt 15) forwardly of roller 24. Bracket 131 is attached toplate beyond one side edge of belt 11} and extends above belt 10. Thecasing of switch X is mounted on the inner face of bracket 131 andextends over belt 10 and is spaced therefrom. Said casing carries aninwardly extending, turnable shaft 132 to which one end of actuatinglever 14 is fixed. Lever 14 is made of spring Wire and extendsdownwardly and forwardly from shaft 132. Lever 14 has a curved free endpontion 133.

Lever end portion 133 normally rests lightly upon belt 10, in whichposition switch X is open. While the length of towel T is passingbetween belt 10 and lever end portion 133, thereby raising the endportion, switch X remains closed with corresponding actuation of timermechanism C to be explained in detail below.

In order to ensure positive movement of switch lever 14 from its closingposition to its open position, obstruction member 134 is connected toplate 130 at the same side of belt 10 as bracket 131. Obstruction member134 extends upwardly past the side edge of belt 10 and protrudesinwardly thereof and has a longitudinal slot 465. Normally, lever endportion 133 extends through slot 465 against belt 14). Obstructionmember 134 has a lower rear lateral knife edge 135 which is forwardlyinclined from the outer edge of member 134. The rear face of member 134is forwardly inclined from edge 135, which frictionally abuts belt 113.A side portion of the front edge of the moving towel T strikes edge 135and it rides over obstruction 134. As a result, the side portion oftowel T passes under switch lever 14 and raises its end portion 133 outof slot 465, thereby causing a greater movement of lever 14 than theflattened partly folded towel T could cause. Switch X is closed whenlever 14 is thus raised.

Transverse Folder Transverse folder D is shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and11.

Folder D includes a lateral shaft turnably mounted upon frame 1 aboveroller 15. Lever arms 16 are re spectively fixedly mounted upon shaft140 and extend forwardly therefrom. Arms 16 are respectively inapproximate longitudinal alinement with the side edges of belt 10 as itpasses over roller 15.

Folder blade 141 is connected to the lower ends of arms 16 and extendsbetween the two arms 16 and also rearwardly thereof. A further lever 142is fixed to shaft 140 intermediate arms 16 and extends upwardly fromshaft 140. Lever 142 is located forward of frame portion 8 and isconnected thereto by spring 143. Tension spring 143 urges lever 142 in aclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 140, as viewed in FIG. 11,and thereby normally maintains blade 141 in its front, inactiveposition.

Blocks 144 are fixed to frame 1 outwardly from the respective arms 16.Each block 144 carries on its rear face a spring blade 145 which extendsbelow block 144. Blade 141 has lateral projections with respectiveupstanding flanges 146 which bear rubber stops 147 on the respectivefront faces thereof. These stops 147 are respectively adapted to strikethe respective rear faces of the lower end portions of blades 145,whereby the forward movement of blade 141, under the urging of spring143, is checked.

Folder solenoid FS is mounted upon frame 1 forwardly of lever 142.Solenoid plunger 148 extends rearward out of the casing of solenoid FSand carries on its rear end a yoke 149. The upper end of the lever 142extends be tween the arms of yoke 149 and is attached thereto by lateralpivot 150.

1 1 The action of solenoid FS is controlled by timer mechanism C, in amanner to be described in detail below. When solenoid FS is energized,plunger 148 is drawn forwardly, against the action of spring 143, andblade 141' is moved rearwardly to its broken-line position of FIG. 11,in which it is substantially horizontal and its rear edge approaches theopening between rollers 15 and 28.

Folder limit switch FL is mounted upon frame 1 below plunger 148 and infront of lever 142. Laterally extending folder limit switch lever 151 isattached to the rear of the casing of switch FL by transverse pivot 152.When lever 142 is drawn rearwardly by plunger 148, lever 142 strikeslever 151 and opens the normally closed switch F L. As will be fullyexplained below, this results in the immediate interruption of thecircuit of solenoid FS, so that spring 143 returns blade 141 to itsnormal position. The movement of folder blade 141 between its twopositions is extremely rapid.

Longitudinally extending, metal plate 153 is centrally supported byframe portion 469 rearwardly of rollers 15 and 28. Plate 153 extendsrearwardly just below and past roller 35 and also past sprocket 49. Beltfrictionally engages the upper face of plate 153. Plate 153 has adownwardly inclined front extension 154 which is positioned proximate tothe opening between rollers and 28. Plate 153 is downwardly bowed inlongitudinal section and is so formed that its ends are upwardlyspringable. As a result, plate 153 exerts uniform tension on belt 10along its length.

Blade 141 is timed to move rearwardly to strike the central lateral lineof towel T after it has passed switch X. Blade 141 folds towel T on thatline, and the two resulting towel portions on either side of the foldline are pushed by blade 141 between belt 10 and roller 28. Spring 31urges roller 28 upwardly to catch towel T frictionally between roller 28and the portion of belt 10 carried under roller 15. As a result, belt11) carries the folded towel rearwardly over plate extension 154 andhence between belt 10 and plate 153. Towel T is carried rearwardlybetween belt 10 and plate 153 toward stacking mechanism E.

The lower face of blade 141 is substantially horizontal at the instanttowel T is folded. The upper face 466 of blade 141 is then upwardlyforwardly inclined. As a result, towel T is frictionally engaged betweenblade face 466 and belt 10 before it is frictionally engaged betweenbelt 10 and roller 28. This makes it possible to limit rearward movementof blade 141 (by means of the usual limit stop within solenoid FS forrod 148) slightly forwardly of the point to which blade 141 wouldotherwise have to move, thereby minimizing the danger of blade 141becoming jammed between the rollers. Also, the thick wedge-shape ofblade 141 helps to prevent disturbance of the fold caused by movement ofthe upper folded portion relative to the lower folded portion resultingfrom contact of the upper folded portion with belt 10. Roller 28 ispreferably covered with rubber for greater frictional engagement withthe lower folded portion of towel T to aid in even movement thereof.

Stacking Mechanism Stacking mechanism E is shown in detail in FIGS. 12-15. It will be noted that FIG. 12 shows the opposite side of the machinefrom the side shown in FIG. 1.

Stacking mechanism E includes a conveyor belt system which frictionallyengages the upper surface of a towel T and draws it onto a pair ofstacker members or rails having smooth operating faces, here shown asangle irons 178, until the towel T lies above the desired stacklocation. Then the stacker members are moved from their normal supportposition to a retracted position in which the towel T is free to drop.

The stacker conveyor system includes the previously mentioned lateralshaft 50 whose sprocket 49 is driven by chain 48 (FIG. 1). It waspreviously stated that shaft 50 is supported by frame 1. The manner inwhich shaft 51) is supported will now be explained more fully.

Intermediate the ends of shaft 59, one or more levers 161) are fixedthereto. This lever extends upwardly and forwardly from shaft 50 and isconnected at its upper end by lateral pivot 161 to block 162. Block 162abuts the lower face of a cross-arm 163' of frame 1 and has anupstanding flange 164 located in front of arm 163. Adjusting screw 165extends through flange 164 and into arm 163 and helps to hold block 162to arm 163. The setting of screw 155 may be varied to adjust thelongitudinal position of shaft 58-.

Intermediate its ends, lever 161i is connected by adjusting screw 166and block 167 to the lower face of arm 163, to permit verticaladjustment of shaft 50.

A pair of laterally spaced pulleys 168 are fixed to shaft 50.

A further lateral shaft 169 is located rearwardly of shaft 58 andcarries two further pulleys 168 in respective longitudinal alinementwith the front pulleys 168. One or more further levers 161) are fixed toshaft 169 and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and areoptionally adjustabily attached to frame 1 similarly to thefirst-mentioned lever 160.

A pair of pulley V-belts 171} extend around the respective longitudinalpairs of pulleys 1&8 and serve as conveyor belts for towel T. Plate 153extends rearwardly under and past the front pulleys 168, so that theleading edge of towel T moving between plate 153 and main conveyor belt10 and passing out of engagement with belt 10 passes into the spacebetween belts 170 and plate 153 before the trailing edge of towel Tpasses belt 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 14).

The angle irons 178 of stacking mechanism E are supported by means oftwo sets of columns 171 which depend from frame 1 laterally outwardly ofpulley belts 171 and which extend below said belts 170. Said columns 171are also located longitudinally between the front and rear pulleys 16S,and the columns of each set are longitudinally alined.

The bottom portions of the columns 171 of each set are formed to providesuitable bearings through which a longitudinal shaft 172 extendsturnably. A pair of end arms 173 and a pair of intermediate arms 174 aremounted upon shaft 172.

At their other ends, the arms 173 and 174 associated with each shaft 172are fixed to the outer face, as viewed in FIG. 13, of the transverselyand longitudinally extending arm 176 of one of the angle irons 178 ofstacking mechanism E. In the normal position of FIGS. 12-14, the otherarm 177 of angle iron 178 is integral with the upper edge of arm 176 andextends horizontally inwardly thereof.

In order to regulate the turned positions of angle irons 178, the angleiron arms 176 are coupled to the plunger 179 of an air cylinder 180.Said air cylinder 181 is fixed to frame 1 laterally outwardly from oneof the angle irons 178 and at the front part of stacking mechanism E.Plunger 179 extends out of the rear end of cylinder 180. Links 181 aresecured to the rear end of plunger 179 by lateral pivot 1811a. One endof arm 182 is positioned between the links 181 and connected thereto bylateral pivot 183. Arm 182 extends upwardly from links 181.

Lateral shaft 184 is turnably mounted upon frame 1 and extends above andlaterally outwardly from angle irons 178. The upper end of arm 182 isdivided to provide fork arms 185 between which an outer end of shaft 184is located. Arms 185 are held together above shaft 184 by means 186 inorder to fix arm 182 to shaft 184.

Brackets 187 are respectively fixed to the outer faces of the respectiveangle iron arms 176 between the arms 174 respectively associatedtherewith. Links 222 are connected to respective faces of brackets 187by longitudinal pivots 223. The lower end of coupling link 1188 isconnected between respective links 222 by means of longitu-

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND STACKING ARTICLES OF LINEN AND THE LIKE,OF THE TYPE HAVING A RELATIVELY NARROW, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME,A CONVEYOR MOVABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN THE SIDES OF SAID FRAME AND HAVING ANINPUT PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID FRAME FOR RECEPTION OF SAID ARTICLES INSUCCESSION, CONVEYOR DRIVE MEANS, A LONGISAID ARTICLES IN SUCCESSION,CONVEYOR DRIVE MEANS, A LONGITUDINAL FOLDER MOUNTED BETWEEN THE SIDES OFSAID FRAME NEAR THE INPUT PORTION OF SAID CONVEYOR AND POSITIONEDRELATIVE THERETO SO THAT ARTICLES CARRIED BY SAID CONVEYOR FROM SAIDINPUT END PASS THROUGH SAID LONGITUDINAL FOLDER, SAID LONGITUDINALFOLDER BEING ADAPTED TO FOLD THE ARTICLE SIDE PORTIONS PROTRUDINGDOWNWARDLY OF SAID LONGITUDINAL FOLDER UNDER THE RESPECTIVE ARTICLECENTER PORTIONS, AND MEANS POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THELONGITUDINALLY FOLDED ARTICLES FOR FOLDING THE ARTICLES TRANSVERSELYTHEREOF; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A STACKING DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAIDFRAME AND POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID CONVEYOR AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVESAID LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY FOLDED ARTICLES SUCCESSIVELY, SAIDSTACKING DEVICE HAVING MEANS INCLUDING A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH IN THEPATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLES FOR ACTUATING SAID STACKING DEVICEUPON CLOSURE OF SAID SWITCH BY AN ARTICLE, WHEREBY TO DROP SAID ARTICLEDOWNWARDLY, AN ELEVATOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT ANDPOSITIONED BELOW SAID STACKING DEVICE FOR RECEPTION OF ARTICLES STACKEDTHEREBY, MEANS FOR LOWERING SAID ELEVATOR AFTER RECEPTION THEREBY OF ASELECTED NUMBER OF ARTICLES, A PUSHER DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FORMOVEMENT IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION, DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID PUSHERDEVICE, SAID PUSHER DEVICE BEING POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID ELEVATORAND SAID PUSHER DRIVE MEANS BEING COUPLED TO SAID ELEVATOR LOWERINGMEANS FOR ACTUATION OF SAID PUSHER DEVICE UPON LOWERING OF SAID ELEVATORTO EJECT SAID STACK FROM SAID ELEVATOR, AND MEANS FOR THEN RAISING SAIDELEVATOR AND RETURNING SAID PUSHER DEVICE TO ITS PREACTUATED POSITION.